Feeling weather resistant? Top tips on sowing hardy annuals

It's now getting to that time of year when it is safe to begin sowing hardy annuals outside. Keep an eye on the forecast for the next few weeks! If there any signs of a cold spell then leave sowing seeds until April. If we are experiencing a mild March, let's get those seeds in the ground!

Hardy annuals look best grown in informal drifts. If the soil has not been prepared then lightly fork it over but do not add any manure or compost. If the soil is too rich then the plants will produce a lot of soft growth but not many flowers. All that needs to be done after forking over the soil is to apply a light dressing of a general fertiliser and rake the soil to a fine tilth. The only rule to remember when planning an annual planting is that the taller plants, such as consolida and cosmos, go to the back of the bed and shorter plants, such as nemophila, lobularia and the poached egg flower (Limnanthes douglasii), at the front.

There are two methods for planting these hardy annuals. You can spend time making colour schemes or theme borders or you can go for the mixed up approach, using a random planting pattern to give a variety of colours and species.

By sowing in drills rather than broadcasting the seed over each drift area, the young seedlings will be easier to tell apart from weeds. Once they grow together, you wont be able to tell that they are in rows. Varying the direction in which the drills cross neighbouring drifts also helps to avoid a regimented look. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, they will have to be thinned out or transplanted into thinner areas in the bed.

Any hardy annuals that were sown under cover can now be hardened off to acclimatise them to outdoor conditions. Put the plants into a cold frame, top closed, for a few days. Then, gradually increase ventilation until the lid can be left off or up. This is usually carried out over a week or ten days. Keep some insulation to put over at night if a sharp frost is expected.

Half hardy and tender perennials can now be sown and kept under cover, these will be ready to plant out closer to the end of April but now is a good time to get them started.

Looking for more tips on keeping your green space in tip top shape this year? Access our professional support on 01344 985885!

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